Counterfeit Pesticides

In the first 7 months of 2013, police in China conducted over 19,000 anti-counterfeiting cases throughout the country. The Ministry of Public Security reported that the counterfeit products seized and destroyed by the Chinese security service included:

The sale of illegal and counterfeit pesticides around the world generates $5.8 Billion (€4.4 Billion) in sales, according to the European Crop Protection Association. In Europe, the sales of the pesticides generates at least $1.2 Billion (€1 Billion). Counterfeit and substandard pesticides make up to 10 percent of Europe’s total crop protection market.

: Martha Moss, “EU urged to step up efforts on illegal and counterfeit pesticides,” The Parliament, March 28, 2013.

In some markets within the European Union, up to 25 percent of the pesticides sold originated from the black market. These unauthorized pesticides are either substandard or are counterfeit versions of the pesticide.

“Trade of illegal pesticides booming in Europe under control of organized crime,” Merco Press, January 13, 2012.

Counterfeit sparkling wine producers in Argentina sell 4 million bottles a year. The counterfeit bottles misappropriate the geographic indications of where the sparkling wine was produced, and sales of the counterfeit bottles make up to 50 percent of the total market.

The sale of counterfeit pesticides in Argentina leads to losses of $26 Million (18.5 Million Euros) for legitimate agrochemical producers.

Sales of counterfeit cigarettes account for 8.8 percent of all cigarettes sales in Argentina.

Up to $100 Million in revenue is lost each year due to movie and television piracy. The total losses is equal to about 52 percent of the total potential movie market.